This is a piece recapping the Top 10 sports moments of the 2009-10 year at Biola as compiled by the Biola Sports Information Office. See the bottom of the page for a schedule of releases and links to past moments as well as honorable mention moments.
#1 – Miller Earns Second MVP Honor; Fifth Individual Title of the Year
Junior Natasha Miller capped one of the best seasons by a Biola athlete with her fifth individual NAIA title in 2009-10, winning the high jump and solidifying her second NAIA Meet Most Valuable Performer award of the year at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in May.
#2 – Cross Country Places Second at the NAIA Championships
Biola's women's cross country team braved the elements to finish second overall at the 2009 NAIA Cross Country Championships in Vancouver, Washington. It was the highest finish by a Biola team since 1987 as all five scorers placed in the top 41 as the Eagles finished just three points out of first place.
#3 – April Smith Becomes Biola's First Swimming National Champion
Despite being in seventh place after the first half of the race, junior April Smith stormed back to win the 200 breaststroke at the 2010 NAIA National Championships, winning the first individual swimming title in school history.
#4 – Men's Soccer Reaches NAIA Quarterfinals with Yet Another Shootout Win
Biola's men's soccer team reached the NAIA Quarterfinals with its second-straight shootout victory and third in its final five games. The Eagles knocked out Hastings College (Neb.) on PKs to advance to the round of eight, the furthest a team has advanced in program history while making its first appearance in 22 years.
#5 – Hampton Scores 32 to Lead Men's Basketball to NAIA Quarterfinals
After surviving a near-death experience earlier in the day, Rocky Hampton came out that evening with a career-high 32 points to lead Biola past Park University and into the NAIA Quarterfinals with an 80-64 victory. The senior scored 23 points and trailed the Pirates by just two at halftime with Biola leading 41-25 at intermission.
#6 – Volleyball Upsets No. 3 Concordia in Irvine
Biola's volleyball team stunned No. 3 Concordia, holding on for a thrilling 25-22, 17-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-8. In a match which has turned into quite a rivalry over the last few years, Biola picked up the big victory which would eventually help the team finish fourth in the GSAC. It was also Biola's third win in its last 13 matches against Concordia.
#7 – Baseball's Vinnie Fayard Hits Four Home Runs Including 10th-Inning Walk Off
Vinnie Fayard crushed a school-record four home runs including a walk-off winner in the bottom of the 10th to complete an impressive come-from-behind 16-13 win over No. 2 Point Loma Nazarene. Fayard had two home runs in an eight-run eighth inning including a go-ahead three-run shot to cap the scoring. He then delivered a three-run, walk-off in the 10th to finish with eight RBIs.
#8 – Men's Soccer Beats Azusa for Second Time to Reach GSAC Finals
Biola continued its epic 2009 season with an impressive 1-0 victory over arch-rival Azusa Pacific University in the GSAC semifinals as Zach Bautista scored with just 33 seconds left to give the Eagles their first-ever appearance in the GSAC championship game. The victory was the second of the season against the Cougars and marked the first back-to-back wins against APU since 1978-79.
#9 – Women's Tennis Upsets No. 18 Westmont, Earns First National Ranking in a Decade
Biola's women's team pulled off a stunning upset, taking the final three sets of its match against No. 18 Westmont College to win 5-4. The Eagles' victory was a major one, propelling them into the NAIA Top 25 for the first time in over a decade—a place they would remain the rest of the season.
#10 – Women’s Basketball Knocks Off No. 2 Point Loma Nazarene
Led by 24 points and 16 rebounds by junior Jessilyn Conicelli, Biola's women's basketball pulled off a stunning upset of No. 2 Point Loma Nazarene University 81-72 at Chase Gymnasium on December 12. The loss cost the Sea Lions a share of the GSAC title and helped the Eagles eventually earn a berth in the NAIA Tournament for the second-straight season.
Honorable Mention
Men's Basketball Blows Out Arch-Rival Azusa Pacific in Azusa
In its first real test of the 2009-10 season, Biola traveled up to Azusa Pacific to face its arch-rivals. However, what unfolded was not what many people expected as the Eagles jumped out to a 12-point halftime lead and led by as many as 32 in the second half. A late rally by the Cougars closed the gap to 10, but comfortably won 85-69. GAME STORY | BOX SCORE
Women's Soccer Ties No. 6 Vanguard in Final Home Match, Spoiling Lion's Title Hopes
Midfielder Kahlie Reinecke made her final home match at Al Barbour Field a special one, scoring her first goal of the season to help Biola secure a 1-1 draw against No. 6 Vanguard University on Senior Night. The tie ended Vanguard's hopes of winning its first GSAC title and dropped them into third place in the final standings. The tie also helped the Eagles finish with an impressive 6-2-1 home record. GAME STORY
Softball Elimiates Azusa Pacific in GSAC Tournament
Biola's rough softball season was capped by an impressive 5-2 victory over arch-rival Azusa Pacific University in the first round of the 2010 GSAC Tournament. Pitcher Lyndsie Roberts went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs to provide herself with all the offense she would need to earn the victory. The game was a bit of revenge for the Eagles, who were eliminated by the Cougars in a similar game last season. GAME STORY| BOX SCORE
Volleyball Survives Epic Match vs Vanguard
Biola's volleyball team came back from an two-game deficit and fought off five match points to pull out a 19-25, 22-25, 29-27, 31-29, 15-12 win over No. 11 Vanguard. The wild win helped the Eagles remain in the NAIA Top 10, allowing them a first-round bye into the NAIA Tournament. GAME STORY | BOX SCORE
Joshua Mathis Finishes Sixth at CBU Invite, Fires First-Round 67
Biola's Joshua Mathis placed sixth overall among a tough field of teams at the 2010 California Baptist University Spring Break Invitational. It was his second top-10 finish of the season, finishing with a four-over-par 220. The freshman from Colorado Springs briefly led overall after carding a first-round 67, the lowest score in the program's three-year history. GAME STORY | RESULTS
Written by Jeff Hoffman, Sports Information Director. For more information, Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator, can be reached at (562) 777-4061 or through email at jenna [dot] l [dot] bartlo [at] biola [dot] edu.